Not to be rude, but what on earth is Louisiana-Lafayette doing running toe-to-toe with the mighty Florida Gators?

You can point to Jeff Driskel’s ankle injury, but that doesn’t explain much. Florida needed every second to punch a 27-20 victory against the Ragin’ Cajuns. This was the team two weeks ago favored to win the SEC East. The team that destroyed South Carolina and did away with LSU.

On Saturday, it was just a team trying to survive.

Jacoby Brissett found a wide-open Quinton Dunbar for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:42 left to tie the game after Caleb Sturgis’ extra point.

ULL had a chance to steal the game away, but Alonzo Harris rushed three straight times and couldn’t pick up the first down. On the fourth-down punt attempt, Florida’s Loucheiz Purifoy blocked the punt and standout UF linebacker Jelani Jenkins returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

It was a comeback that made more sense than the baffling struggle that took place throughout the game.

The Ragin’ Cajuns kept the game tied, 3-3, until Driskel completed a 2-yard TD pass to Trey Burton at the end of the first half to give Florida a 10-3 lead. Sturgis extended the lead 13-3 on a 21-yard field goal.

But, Louisiana-Lafayette responded with a score from Harris.

Florida was about to punt on its next possession, but it was blocked and returned 22 yards by Blake Comminie for a ULL touchdown that gave them a 17-13 lead.

A 22-yard field goal from Brett Baer extended it to 20-13 with 13:11 left in the fourth quarter. What would have been a stunning upset was just a few minutes away.

Not until 1:50 left on the clock did the Gators stave off embarrassment, and more important prevent a big step back in a season that has otherwise been a step forward for the Gators.